Stenotype tripod

ABSTRACT

A detachable stand for supporting a machine such as a stenotype, which comprises a socket, fastening means for securing the stenotype to said socket, three legs pivotally connected by their upper ends to said socket, each leg comprising an upper section and a lower section consisting of channel elements having their aperture facing inwards and pivotally interconnected so that they can assume, in an operative position of said stand, either a first position in which said pair of leg-forming sections are in mutual alignment and such that when said stand is placed on the floor the stenotype is at a proper level for an operator sitting on a chair, or another position in which said lower section is folded into said upper section and such that when said stand is placed on a table, the stenotype is at a proper height for a standing operator.

States Patent [72] Inventor Francoise Grandjean Paris, France [21] Appl. No. 705,768 [22] Filed Feb. 15, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Stenotype Grandjean, Societe Anonyme Paris, France [32] Priority Nov. 20, 1967 [33] France 3.1 4

[54] STENOTYPE TRIPOD 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 248/170, 248/ 188.6 [51] Int. Cl ..F16m ll/38 [50] Field of Search 248/170, 168,435,434, 166, 188.6, 464; 211/178; 5/57; 108/133, l28;287/99, 101

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,496 7/1896 Macklin 248/170 1,444,569 2/1923 Starkweather 248/188.6 1,515,466 11/1924 Dore 287/99 1,888,117 11/1932 Fox 108/133 2,248,871 7/1941 Howe 248/168 2,653,000 9/1953 Cadwell et a1. 248/168 2,709,560 5/1955 Resk 248/169 2,905,513 9/1959 Kane 108/128 1,565,636 12/1925 Goetz 248/434 1,893,910 l/l933 Silverman 248/188.9 FOREIGN PATENTS 340,495 9/1921 Germany 248/188.6 672,189 9/1929 France 248/1 88.6 876,163 5/1953 Germany 248/170 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Att0meyAmster & Rothstein ABSTRACT: A detachable stand for supporting a machine such as a stenotype, which comprises a socket, fastening means for securing the stenotype to said socket, three legs pivotally connected by their upper ends to said socket, each leg comprising an upper section and a lower section consisting of channel elements having their aperture facing inwards and pivotally interconnected so that they can assume, in an operative position of said stand, either a first position in which said pair of leg-forming sections are in mutual alignment and such that when said stand is placed on the floor the stenotype is at a proper level for an operator sitting on a chair, or another position in which said lower section is folded into said upper section and such that when said stand is placed on a table, the stenotype is at a proper height for a standing operator.

PATENTEU HAR 2:971

SHEET 2 OF 2 STENOTYFE TRIPOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in'stenotypes and more particularly to support means for keyboardoperated machines of this character;

When a secretary must operate outsideher office to record a letter or a conversation on her stenotype, a chair and a table are not always available for her and her machine. It only a chair is available she must work with the machine on her lap, and if only a narrow table corner is offered for this purpose, she can put the machine thereon but in most instances, due to the difference in height between the table top and the secreta- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the essential object of this invention to avoid these various drawbacks by providing a stenotype stand adapted to be used conveniently by a secretary whenever only a .chair or a table are available to her.

It is another object of this invention to provide a detachable stand for stenotype and likf iimachines, which is advantageous from the dual point of viewibf its manufacturing'cost and its very satisfactory rigidity and stability. 1

Furthermore, this invention has for its object a detachable stand adapted to fit directly or indirectly to any type of stenotype or like machines.

It is a complementary object ofthis invention to provide a stenotype stand adapted to be set very rapidly to its upper or lower position from an initial momentary lower or upper position respectively, according to requirements.

To this end, the support meansaccording to this invention consisting essentially of an adjustable and detachable stand for supporting a stenotype of like machine, which comprises a substantially cylindrically socket, means for securing the stenotype to said socket, three legs having their upper ends pivotally connected to said socket about three axes disposed in the transverse plane of said socket so as to constitute the sides of an equilateral triangle, said legs being adapted to assume two positions, namely an inoperative position in which said legs are substantially parallel to each other end perpendicular to said plane, and an operative position in which said legs are equally inclined in relation to said plane, it characterized in that each let comprises an upper section and a lower section each consisting of a channel element open to the inside, said element being pivotally interconnected so that it can assume in said operative leg position either a first position in which the two sections are in mutual alignment and wherein, when the stand bears on the floor, the stenotype is at the proper level for a sitting user, or a second position in which the lower section is folded intothe upper section and wherein, when the stand bears on a table top, the stenotype is at a proper height for a standing user.

Locking means are provided at the joints between the leg sections, these means locking the legs automatically in their outstretched position.

On the other hand, each outer or lower leg section is adapted to be folded inwards in said folded leg position, and to fit snuggly and completely in the companion inner or upper section.

Each leg comprises only two sections. In fact, experience teaches that to warrant satisfactory, reliable and lasting stability and rigidity of the stand,,the use of a greater number of leg sections of cross-sectional dimensions decreasing towards the outer ends of the legs should be avoided.

Moreover, the use of two sections per leg is also advantageous in that is affords a quicker change from the preceding upper or lower position 'tothe desired lower or upper position, respectively, of the stand.

The detachable stand according to this invention further comprises fastening means for directly or indirectly securing the stenotype or like machine thereto. The aforesaid socket having a substantially vertical axis in the operative stand position has slidably mounted therein a rod carrying at its upper end the aforesaid direct or indirect fastening means.

In addition, said socket comprises means for locking said rod in the desired axial and angular position in said socket.

The length of said rod corresponds substantially to that of the longer section of each leg.

The upper end of said rod carries screw means adapted either to constitute said direct fastening means if a corresponding tapped hole is provided in the base of the stenotype or like machine, or to receive intermediate or indirect fastening means for securing the stenotype or like machine ,to the stand, if no such tapped hole is provided thereon.

The upper end of said rod further may also comprise joint means, for example in the form of a ball-and-socket joint carrying said direct or indirect fastening means, for adjusting the angular setting of the stenotype or like machine.

Said adjustment joint means comprises if desired locking means adapted to lock said joint means in the desired angular position of the stenotype or like machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A typical form of embodiment of the adjustable and detachable stand according to this invention will now be described by way of. example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the stand for stenotype or like machine in its fully folded inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view from above showing the stand in operative position on a table; I

FIG. 3 is a part elevational, partsectional view corresponding to FIG. 2; I I

FIG. 4 is a view similar to P10. 3 but showing the stand with the legs fully outstretched and ready for use on the floor;

, FIG. 5 is a detail view showing on a larger scale the joint between two leg sections as seen from the interior of the leg, and FIG. 6 is a section showing the same detail, the section being taken along the line Vl-VI of FIG. 5

. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The stand illustrated in the drawings comprises essentially a socket l of substantially cylindrical configuration, formed with three radially-extending lugs 2 spaced apart and having pivotally connected thereto three corresponding legs 3 about substantially horizontal pins consisting in this example of bolt and nut assemblies 4.

Each leg 3 comprises an upper section 3a and a lower section 3b consisting each of channel sections having however different cross-sectional dimensions so that the lower section 3b may fit snuggly and completely into the upper section 3a as illustrated in the drawings.

The back 5 of each upper section 3a is removed at the upper end of the section to provide a pair of parallel flanges 6 formed with aligned holes for receiving the aforesaid bolt and nut assemblies 4 and constituting the pivotal connection of each section 3a on the corresponding lug 2 of the socket. Spring washers 7 are provided between each flangeo and the registering face of lug 2-, the lower edge of this lug 2 constituting the abutment engageable by the upper edge of each back 5 of sections 3a in the outermost position of these sections with 1 respect to the vertical axis of the stand.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate on a larger scale a possible form of actuation of joint means provided between the pair of legsuch that the outer face of the bottom of section 3b engages the inner face of the bottom of section 3b along a surface sufficient to ensure a satisfactory rigidity of the leg in its unfolded or outstretched position.

Between the outer lateral faces of section 3b and the relevant inner faces of section 3a a spring washer l and a friction plate 11 are also provided.

in the unfolded or outstretched position the sections 30 and 3b' are locked in mutual alignment by means of a spring blade 12.

This spring blade 12 is substantially L-shaped and has one arm riveted to the bottom of section 3a and the other arm folded at its outer end firstly inwards of the section and then outwards, so as to engage a projection 13 formed by pressing or punching in the upper or outer face of section 3b.

Moreover, a suitable nonskid member 14 may advantageously be provided at the lower end of each section 3b, this member 14 consisting for example of a rubber strip folded over the lower edge of the bottom or back portion of section 3b, and secured thereto by means of a rivet or the like.

The socket 1 consists of a central cylindrical tubular vertical body 15 adapted slidably to receive in its axial bore a rod 16 also of cylindrical configuration.

A thumb screw 17 engages a radial tapped hole formed inthe socket body 15 for locking the rod 16 in the desired axial position. I

This rod 16 carries at its upper end a screw-threaded tip 18 adapted to engage a corresponding tapped hole formed in the base of a stenotype or like machine. If no such tapped hole is provided in the machine, some intermediate fasteningmeans of any known and suitable type known per se may be pro vided, which is screwed on the tip 18. This intermediate member (not shown) may comprise for example three or four arms of adjustable length, having upwardly bent outer ends adapted to clamp the lateral faces or edges of the stenotype or like machine which is thus supported by the horizontal portions of said arms.

Of course, many modifications and variations may be brought to the specific form of embodiment shown and described herein, without inasmuch departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Nevertheless, joint means adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis, or better still, a ball-and-socket joint having locking means, may advantageously be provided between said rod 16 and the stenotype, for facilitating the angular setting of the machine.

lclaim:

l. A detachable stand for supporting a machine such as a stenotype, which comprises a socket formed with a central through hole disposed vertically therein, a rod carrying at its upper end means for securing said machine and adapted to be slidably guided in said hole, means' locking said rod in any desired axial position in said hole, three legs pivotally connected at their upper ends to said socket about three axes disposed in the transverse plane of said socket and forming the sides of an equilateral triangle, whereby the legs are shiftable between an inoperative position parallel to one another, and perpendicular to saidplane and an operative position inclined to said plane, each leg comprising a pair of sections including an upper section and a lower section In. 2h consisting of channel elements having their openings facing inwardly and being pivotally interconnected for folding movement, in said operative position of the legs, between an unfolded position wherein each pair of sections are in alignment whereby the stand may be placed on a floor and the machine is at a proper level for an operator sitting on a chair and a folded position in which the lower section of each leg is folded into the upper section of such leg whereby the stand may. be placed on a table, said sections in their unfolded position being disposed so that the outer face of the backwall of the upper end of the lower section overlies and presses against the inner face of the backwall of the lower end of the upper section for structural rigidity so as to prevent movement of the sections beyond their alignment position, lock washers disposed between the upper and lower sections at their pivotal connection to inhibit freeswinging movement therebetween, and lock means carried by the sections of each leg to selectively retain the sections in their unfolded position, said lock means including an L- shaped spring blade having one arm thereof fixed to the backwall of the lower end of the upper section and having the other arm thereof spanning a sidewall of the upper section, with the free tip of the blade protruding into the channel of the upper section in part through a notch in said sidewall, said free tip having an inward bend and an outward bend, the lower section adjacent said pivotal connection having an outward bulge in its sidewall, said bulge projecting toward the sidewall of the upper section with the notch therein and said bulge including a wall portion tapering outwardly from the backwall of the inner section towards the free edge of the sidewall of the inner section, said tapering wall portion of the bulge engaging the outward bend of the tip of the spring blade and urging the spring blade continually outwardly as the lower section pivots from its folded to unfolded position until a point at which the backwall of the lower section is flush against the backwall of the upper section, at which point the inward bend of the spring blade clears the free edge of the sidewall of the inner section -and overlies and urges the same toward the backwall of the upper section to retain the lower section in its unfolded position, and the free edge of the sidewall engaging the inward bend of the tip of the spring blade and urging and moving said blade outwardly as the lower section pivots from its unfolded position to its folded position. 

1. A detachable stand for supporting a machine such as a stenotype, which comprises a socket formed with a central through hole disposed vertically therein, a rod carrying at its upper end means for securing said machine and adapted to be slidably guided in said hole, means locking said rod in any desired axial position in said hole, three legs pivotally connected at their upper ends to said socket about three axes disposed in the transverse plane of said socket and forming the sides of an equilateral triangle, whereby the legs are shiftable between an inoperative position parallel to one another and perpendicular to said plane and an operative position inclined to said plane, each leg comprising a pair of sections including an upper section and a lower section both consisting of channel elements having their openings facing inwardly and being pivotally interconnected for folding movement, in said operative position of the legs, between an unfolded position wherein each pair of sections are in alignment whereby the stand may be placed on a floor and the machine is at a proper level for an operator sitting on a chair and a folded position in which the lower section of each leg is folded into the upper section of such leg whereby the stand may be placed on a table, said sections in their unfolded position being disposed so that the outer face of the backwall of the upper end of the lower section overlies and presses against the inner face of the backwall of the lower end of the upper section for structural rigidity so as to prevent movement of the sections beyond their alignment position, lock washers disposed between the upper and lower sections at their pivotal connection to inhibit free-swinging movement therebetween, and lock means carried by the sections of each leg to selectively retain the sections in their unfolded position, said lock means including an L-shaped spring blade having one arm thereof fixed to the backwall of the lower end of the upper section and having the other arm thereof spanning a sidewall of the upper section, with the free tip of the blade protruding into the channel of the upper section in part through a notch in said sidewall, said free tip having an inward bend and an outward bend, the lower section adjacent said pivotal connection having an outward bulge in its sidewall, said bulge projecting toward the sidewall of the upper section with the notch therein and said bulge including a wall portion tapering outwardly from the backwall of the inner section towards the free edge of the sidewall of the inner section, said tapering wall portion of the bulge engaging the outward bend of the tip of the spring blade and urging the spring blade continually outwardly as the lower section pivots from its folded to unfolded position until a point at which the backwall of the lower section is flush against the backwall of the upper section, at which point the inward bend of the spring blade clears the free edge of the sidewall of the inner section and overlies and urges the same toward the backwall of the upper section to retain the lower section in its unfolded position, and the free edge of the sidewall engaging the inward bend of the tip of the spring blade and urging and moving said blade outwardly as the lower section pivots from its unfolded position to its folded position. 